Runs, Rambles and Rants @ukrunrambles

JUST ANOTHER BLOODY RUNNING BLOG ABOUT ULTRA RUNNING, RUNNERS,
GEAR
AND OTHER SOMETIMES RELATED SELF INDULGANT CRAP.
I AM NOT A FAST RUNNER NOR A TECHNICALLY GIFTED RUNNER
BUT I WORK HARD AND I LOVE THE SPORT.
By trade I am a Sport Scientist, Running biomechanics lab manager
and footwear design consultant.

Saturday, 28 September 2013

7 UK runners followed in the steps of Pheidippides this weekend and a furthur 15 valiantly attempted too. I collated finisher results to look how our Finishers stacked up against the rest of the world. http://www.spartathlon.gr/en.html

A few historical facts and figures first:

Joao Oliveira of Portugal became only the 11th Person to break 24 hours en route to his excellent win. It was, however, the 14th fastest time of all-time. Some of the runners have broke it more than once. The great Kouros has done it 4 times (4 fastetst times ever), Jurek has 3 and Cudin has 2 for example

The Female winner Szilvia Lubics' run of 28:03 is the 3rd fastest of all-time. Behind Lizzy Hawker (27:02) and Sumie Inagaki (27:39)

This years total finishers of 148 is the 2nd highest of all-time. 2008 remains the highest with 154 finishers